The tough truth of marginalized communities attacking their own is difficult to face but accurate in its exposure of toxic...
A gay Toronto foodie translates his love of pastry into love of self amid some mean-boy body shaming.
Seventeen-year-old Theo’s amour for baking doesn’t extend to cardio, so he’s less six-pack abs and more keg. Since Theo lacks the confidence to recognize he’s got noteworthy allure as a baker (and potential boyfriend material), his outrageous bestie, Di, enters him into a cooking (note: not baking) contest. Sweets, not savories, are his forte, but he embraces the opportunity since it’s sponsored by one of the hottest and hottest celebrity faces in the restaurant world, Kyle Carl Clark. Swoon. Theo is the instant dark horse, his recipes as conversely different from his competitors’ as his full-bodied breadth is to their tight pecs and trim waistlines. As the contest evolves, he confronts a barrage of insults and advances (wanted and unwanted), meandering through them to understand himself, his talent, and his take on negative forces within his own community. Short paragraphs and straightforward dialogue make this ideal for reluctant readers. A gay protagonist (and many secondary and tertiary characters) and a drag queen will resonate with an LGBTQ+ audience. Theo is presumably white, as are most characters; a reference to microbraids may imply Di is black, and one contest judge has an Asian Indian surname.
The tough truth of marginalized communities attacking their own is difficult to face but accurate in its exposure of toxic behavior; Theo’s shaky navigation is inspiring. (Fiction. 13-17)Pub Date: Jan. 29, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4598-2082-1
Page Count: 144
Publisher: Orca
Review Posted Online: Nov. 24, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An enjoyable, if predictable, romantic holiday story.
Is an exuberant extended family the cure for a breakup? Sophie is about to find out.
When Sophie unexpectedly breaks up with her boyfriend, she isn’t thrilled about spending the holidays at her grandparents’ house instead of with him. And when her grandmother forms a plan to distract Sophie from her broken heart—10 blind dates, each set up by different family members—she’s even less thrilled. Everyone gets involved with the matchmaking, even forming a betting pool on the success of each date. But will Sophie really find someone to fill the space left by her ex? Will her ex get wind of Sophie’s dating spree via social media and want them to get back together? Is that what she even wants anymore? This is a fun story of finding love, getting to know yourself, and getting to know your family. The pace is quick and light, though the characters are fairly shallow and occasionally feel interchangeable, especially with so many names involved. A Christmas tale, the plot is a fast-paced series of dinners, parties, and games, relayed in both narrative form and via texts, though the humor occasionally feels stiff and overwrought. The ending is satisfying, though largely unsurprising. Most characters default to white as members of Sophie’s Italian American extended family, although one of her cousins has a Filipina mother. One uncle is gay.
An enjoyable, if predictable, romantic holiday story. (Fiction. 13-16)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-368-02749-6
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: June 22, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2019
Full of drama, emotional turmoil, and high stakes.
What happens to the world after the dust from a revolution has settled?
Friends Annie and Lee were children from very different circles when Atreus killed Lee’s father, dragonlord Leon Stormscourge, ending the uprising on the bloodiest day in Callipolis’ history. For too long the dragonriders held all the power while their people starved and lived in fear. Nine years later, a new generation of dragonriders is emerging, children selected and trained on merit, not bloodlines. Their dragons are finally mature enough for them to compete for Firstrider, a position of power that can give Lee back a small part of what his family lost. However, not only is Lee competing against Annie, but rumors are circulating that some of the royal family have survived and have dragons of their own. Everyone will have to make a choice: Restore the old regime, support the First Protector and the new caste system he created, or look for a new way, no matter what the cost. From the beginning, this book pulls readers in with political intrigue and action. What keeps them invested, however, are the complex relationships between many cast members. Choices are complex, and the consequences for all could be deadly. The world is well fleshed out and believable. Annie and Lee are light skinned; secondary characters are diverse, and race is a nonissue in this world.
Full of drama, emotional turmoil, and high stakes. (author’s note) (Fantasy.14-17)Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-525-51821-1
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: July 23, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2019
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